Connector.



W. P. HAMMOND.

CONNECTOR.

- APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 21, 1911.

1 ,O39,279, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Allorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, AS SIGNOR TO AMERICAN EVER READY COMPANY, A CQRPORATICN OENEW YORK.

CONNECTOR. 3'

To all whom it may concern at Passaic; in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counectors of which the following is a specification. 1"

The present invcrition' relates to certain new and useful iln ovements in connectors 01' binding clips-such as are adapted to be employed for co pnectig'ig the terminal of an electric wire or, pond ictor to the binding post of a battery, spa] plug, or other similar member. i

The object of the itiv ention is to provide a connector which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be quickly applied to a binding post or like member or disengaged therefrom, and which will form a good electrical connection" between the binding post or like member and the conductor. i

With this and other objectsfin view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as' the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in whieh- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector or binding clip constructed in accordance with the invention. .Fi 2 is a plan view of the same, the jaws o? the clip being pressed inwardly'by the fingers so as to bring the various openings into registry Wllll each other preparatory to placing the clip upon a binding post or like member. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the connector. Fig.4 is a transversesectional view through the connector, and Fig. 5 is a view showing the connector applied to a binding post.

Correspoi'iding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of cooperating jaws, the said jaws being substantially U-shaped in transverse section, and the arms of the Specification of Letters Patent/ Patented Sept. 24,1912. Application filed October 21, 1911.

Serial No. 655,942.

jaw 2 being received between the arms of the jaw 1. Projecting from one side ofthe respective jaws l and 2 are the spring arms 3, and :l, the said spring arms being. integral with a sleeve 5 which is adapted, to be clamped around one end of a conductor 6 so as to both secure the connector to the conductor and establish an electrical connection between the two members.

The jaw 1 comprises a pair of spaced and parallel superposed circular plates 1 which are connected at their edges by a cross bar 1", the plates 1 being formed with registering openings 7. In a similar manner, the jaw 2 comprises a pair of spaced and parallel superposed circular plates 2 which are similar to the plates 1'aud are connected at their edges by the cross bar 2. These plates are formed with the registering openings 8 which are similar in size and shape to the opening 7 of the jaw 1. The plates 2 of the jaw 2 slide'between the plat-cs1 of the jaw 1 and frictionally engage the same, each pair of the plates i and 2 thereby cooperating with each other to hold the other pair of plates 1 and 2 in engagement with each other. This construction has the advantage of tending to counteract any tendencv of the (an-responding plates 1 and 2 of the two'jaws to separate from each other or spring apart when the connector is applied to a binding post or like member.

The spring arms 3 and 4 are integral with the plates 1 and 2 of the respective jaws 1 and 2 and cross each other between the wire engaging sleeve 5 and the ja s. These spring arms 3 and 4 normally tend to move the jaws 1 and 2 apart so as to throw the openings 7 and 8 out of registry with each other, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. However, by grasping the cross bars 1" and 2 of the two jaws between the fingers and applying pressure thereto as'indicated in Fig.

2, the jaws can be moved against the action of the spring arms-so as to bring the open ings 7 and 8 in alinement with each other. The connector can then be applied to a bind ing post or like member, and as soon as the jaws are released, the spring arms 3 and 4 will tend to bring them back intotheir original position, and i will accordingly hold .them in a firm engagement with the binding post. The binding post is engaged at two separate and distinct points, and a good electrical connection therewith is thereby rendered certain. In order to disengage the connectorfrom the binding post, it is merely necessary to again apply pressure to the jaws so as to force them inwardlyngainst each other, and bring the openings and 8 again in alinement with each other, preparatory to lifting the connector from the binding post. It will thus be obvious that the connector can be quickly applied to the binding post or disengaged therefrom, and that a good electrical. connection will be obtained between the con ductonand the binding post when the connector is in position.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'1. A connector including a pair of cooperating jaws each of which is formed with a pair of spaced and parallel plates having corresponding cutaway portions adapted to receive a post or like member, an integral spring arm projecting from one of said plates of each jaw and disposed substantially in the plane thereof, a sleeve integral with the spring arms and serving to engage a conductor, the said spring arms normally tending to force the jaws apart to hold the edges of the openings in engagement with a post or like member such as can be inserted through the openings of the jaws when the said jaws are moved against the action of the spring arms'to bring the openings into registry with each other.

2. A connector adapted t obe formed ironies a single piece of sheet metal and including a pair of cooperating jaws, each of the jaws being formed with a pair of spaced and parallel plates having corresponding openings therein and connected at the edges thereof by a cross bar, an integral spring arm projecting from one of the plates of each jaw,

said spring arms crossing each other intermediate their ends, an integral sleeve connecting' the ends of the spring arms and forming a means for engaging a conductor, the said spring arms normally tending to force the jaws apart so as to cause the edges of the openings of the plate to engage a post or like member previously inserted through the openings, and the cross bars connecting the plates at each jaw forming finger pieces 1 for moving the jaws against the action of the spring arms to bring the openings into registry with each other preparatory to apber or disengaging it therefrom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM P. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

C. D. GAVANAUGH, LEONARD L. GREAR.

plying the connector to a post or like mem- 

